TheDrunks - Ex-BT Van project

[TheDrunk]

Hi there, new to the forums so sorry if this is not the correct thing to do.

I've just purchased a 1994 Ford Transit 120. First one I've owned so do bare with me...

Put it through an MOT and it failed on body work umongst other things. If anyone happens to know roughly what I should be paying to get this lot sorted, please enlighten me!

OK the List:

Nearside front (shocker top location) suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded [2.4.A.2]

Offside front (shocker top location) suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded [2.4.A.2]

Rear (Cross member) suspension spring mounting prescrived area is excessively corroded [2.4.A.2]

Offside (lower side panel) body has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings [6.1.3]

Nearside read (wheel arch) body is damaged, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings [6.1.3]

Offside read (wheel arch) body is damaged, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings [6.1.3]


I know it is probably difficult to say without actually seeing photos of having a look at the van but a rough guide price is all I'm looking for.

Also if anyone can recommend a garage that can carry out this work in West Yorkshire, I'd be very interested to hear.

Thanks.

[baby stepside]

go see worzel at waldorf way wakefield behind jct 600 dont call him worzell mind
best welder this side of the pond and he is cheap
shocker tops sounds bad mind
bare in mind he will do full seam welds no birdshit so be ready to stand in awe

[TheDrunk]

Great thanks, got a contact number?

[baby stepside]

no mate sorry
you are best turning up
he doesnt bite
ive just remembered his real name bob ask for bob

[TheDrunk]

Thanks, if anyone else has any advice, post away.

[Luke]

if you can post some pics up - you'll get better feedback

[Smooth Hound]

These corroded areas, have a look at them, are they through or just rusty looking because of the paint come off or something, look at each failed pioece andmake a decision as to the question of is it through or not, if you find that some or all of these places could be covered with say underseal and then couldnt be seen then do that, but you would be best to underseal the whole lot so as not to attract attention to the bits you have covered, the body bit they spoke of access it the same if it is through you have a couple of choices depending on how long you intend the van to last either have it welded properly or use fibre glass but that would need to be good enough a job that it can be painted without being seen as it is closer than 30 cms to something structural, underseal up a ft on the sides is not out of the ordinary when a van is showing signs of serious fatigue, if however your van is of conciderable value to you either financially or emotionally then have it welded properly, and sorry no idea of cost , but if the places you say really all need welding, which i doubt , then you are looking in the hundreds say 3 to 500 quid, if you do decide to have it welded then bear in mind that some garages are sh-t at welding so choose one with a good reputation, or one through a friend or something. Oh and one final question did the mot you had done on the van that it failed, have all the computor stuff or was it a small local garage, because if it is a computor print out place then you must take it to another garage without a computor print out , because you fail reasons will show up, meaning that he will expect to see a repair i would have thought, perhaps other members have had other experiences that might be of better help to you though

[TheDrunk]

if you can post some pics up - you'll get better feedback

Next time I am near the van I will take a load of photos!

[TheDrunk]

Thanks for the tips Smooth Hound.


I actually took it to KWIK-FIT as I knew they would show no mercy on the van and I would get a full list of faults. The guy was actually very helpful and gave quite a bit of advice!

Anyway yes I have the VOSA print-out.

As for 'covering up' some of the damage, yes some of the areas warrant this kind of attention (in my opinion) others definately want to be welded anyway so providing the cost isn't too insane, I'll get the lot done to be on the safe side.

[Smooth Hound]

wheel arch body damaged i asume you mean inside the van, is it dented or rusted through, if its denting or a bit rusty then you could build some wheel arches out of ply board and build them in to the van, make it look like they grew there so to speak

[TheDrunk]

Na, it is the actual lips around the arch! MILES away from the main structure.

They really are strict!

[TheDrunk]

Does anyone know how much work is involved to fix the shocker tops? Guy at the garage advised you can buy pre-made metal 'inserts' which you weld into place.

Do you have to drop the engine out (or worse) in order to work on these areas?

TIA.

[Luke]

Do you have to drop the engine out (or worse) in order to work on these areas?

no

need pics really - but its an easy fix - not sure if replacements can be bought but you can cut them out of a scrap van easly enough

[TheDrunk]

Thanks Luke. More information as I get it.

[TheDrunk]

Sorry, no photos as yet, hektik!

Anyway, I rang around a load of garages. Found a guy who reckons it will be about 350 to do the lot. He's done transits before (actually owns one) and even knew which areas probably needed doing. Sounds like a reasonable price to me. What does anyone else think as a ball park?